Thread: Smugglers abandon 700 lbs. of marijuana after shootout with

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Lupita Murillo Reports

Smugglers abandon 700 lbs. of marijuana after shootout with Border Patrol

June 16, 2006, 10:27 AM

Border Agents are dealing with the aftermath of a dangerous security breach.

Wednesday night, in the Tucson Sector six miles southeast of Nogales, a half mile north of the border, a Mercedes Benz SUV was caught crossing the line on a rural, dirt road.

Six Border Patrol agents moved in to stop it, and that's when the gunfire rang out.

Border Patrol agents stood guard as the Critical Incidents Investigation Team took a close look at the crime scene.

A Border Patrol helicopter flew overhead, also protecting the agents below.

Marked tennis balls showed the bullet casings left behind.

The FBI says more than four people began shooting at Border Patrol agents Wednesday night.

They came under fire when they saw a Mercedes SUV coming into the country. This is an area heavily traveled by drug smugglers.

Border Patrol spokesman Sean King says, "The lead vehicle that was behind the SUV was struck twice, once in the windshield and once in the radiator. Agents then returned fire, and a numer of suspects left the vehicle and headed towards Mexico."

Vehicle barricades are currently what Border Patrol agents are constructing.

The shooting took place less than a 100 yards from here. The Mercedes SUV came through the road behind me where the vehicle barricades hadn't been built yet.

Agent King says, "We're placing vehicle barricades as quickly as we can."

So the drug smugglers got away, but they left behind more than 700 pounds of marijuana valued at over half a million dollars.

So far this year, there have been more than 100 assaults against Border Patrol agents, making this a very dangerous job.

Such a thankless and dangerous job being an honest agent.

Atleast they're back on their side of the border and a little less drugs hit our streets. I'm not so sure they can't taint that with some dangerous stuff. I know they have the heroin. Nothing contageous. But that's not to say they couldn't.

Mercedes Suv's, my, my, they do travel in style don't they!


Keep the hell out of our country!

Mercedes Suv's, my, my, they do travel in style don't they!

I thought they were too!!